Upcoming Events
Party meetings and local events on the Benton County calendar
Washington 4th District Public Calendar
Upcoming Local Party Meetings and Affinity Group Activities
Benton County General Meeting June 26, 2025
The Big List of Protests in WA. Check every day.
Featured Items
He has been in office for 150 days.
He may be in office for 1310 days more.
Choose Democracy invites everyone to observe a minute of silence each Wednesday at 12:53 AM(local time) in a Minute for US. This was the time when the Capitol was breached on January 6. It’s a weekly moment of silence to honor those suffering under this administration and the destruction it’s causing.
Run for Something! Candidates who have filed for Election in 2025 in Benton County
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Find a candidate worthy of your support and volunteer for them. Future office holders often start their careers in local public service.
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Events
Ag and Rural Caucus for June
Policy Briefing
6:30 pm Thursday 19 June
Ryan Boylan, Research Manager, Palouse Conservation District
FOURISH Farmers Leading our United Revolution in Soil Health
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85907982157?pwd=MU4vV3E3VGZ5VU02dnhvZjg2b3hK.Zz09
Click link or Paste link into browser.
At first blush, cover crops on summer fallow ground do not make sense. Summer fallow is leaving a field without a crop between seeded crops. The idea is to let a field lie “fallow” a year tp store up water. Dryland wheat growers shake their heads about growing a cover crop on ground they are trying to store water for the next wheat crop. Summer fallow growers’ principal challenge is to keep weeds from sucking up the water they are trying to accumulate to grow the next cash crop. They spend money killing Russian Thistles with tillage or chemical.
How does Ryan respond to questions about having “managed weeds” in the field in its off-year help store water? Let’s find out. These may be novel questions for us but for Ryan they are old hat. This just might be interesting.
Don
14 June 2025
Regenerative ag is the theme of the day, or decade actually. It means everything thought to be good about farming and soil management. It comes down to four recommended practices: 1) reduce tillage, 2) integrate livestock with cropping, 3) rotate crops, and 4) utilize cover cropping. (We have already talked about #2, holistic livestock management along with virtual fencing.)
This month we are going to talk about cover cropping. The idea is to keep a crop on the ground. Around here this does not happen much in summer fallow between wheat crops or in spring crops following wheat harvest.
Ryan is going to talk to us about how Palouse growers can and do use cover crops, and why. Ryan is a pioneer in his work with PNW farmers. Learn the ups and downs of his work.
Don
11 June 2025
June Policy Briefing is about farming. OK, I can feel your eyes glaze over. Stay with me though. Given a moment, I suspect even you may entertain some ideas about farming. Something like, farming done right could solve the planet’s CO2 problem, or if farmers only managed their fertilizer better, we could clean up the Mississippi, or farmers are poisoning the food supply with their pesticides just like RFK, Jr. says, or – fill in the blank.
Farmers are seen as custodians of a national asset and how they farm should advance the social good, and farmers cannot be trusted to make that decision on their own.
The other side is that farmers are small business operators who farm ground that they hold title to and ground that they lease from neighbors. The land, and its productivity, is their principal asset along with purchased equipment. If the weather turns south, the commodity markets crash, or the costs skyrocket, farmers risk losing their owned assets as well as their personal identity.
This is a bit much to take in. Consider this an invitation to talk about farming…with Ryan Boylan from he Palouse Conservation District.
Don
6 June 2025
Zoom link to presentation and conversation
6:30 pm Thursday 5 June
Jane Provo, Chair, Chelan County Democrats
Karen Keleman, Chair, Douglas County Democrats
Kurt Peterson, web designer
NCW Channel Z Tune In/Join In
Better Practices
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86197176823?pwd=6BIWfzuGjNJvviW6YvgbeDeLHKF8FA.1
Click link or Paste link into browser.
Karen Keleman, chair of Douglas County Democrats, and Kurt Peterson who designed the Chelan County Democratic website, are joining Jane tomorrow. This partnership is part of Jane’s message tomorrow. North Central Washington Democrats support each other. NCW counties are tough places for Democrats, yet they thrive by working together and working smart. They are a model for us all.
Don
4 June 2025
I promised Jane that she would not have to carry the burden of producing ninety minutes of material on her own. This is an easy promise to keep; our ARC family is alert and engaged. Sign on Thursday and share your thoughts, dreams and irritations. Or just say “hi”.
See you Thursday.
Don
3 June 2025
Jane Provo brings Better Practices to us Thursday…in the best sense. ARC started Better Practices to showcase local parties. We are all trying to find out what works for us. Better Practices gives us a glimpse of another LPO’s ideas that might work for us too. Note “better”, not “best”. What works for one LPO might not fit another but it gets the juices going.
Jane chairs the Chelan County Democrats. Welcome her – this Thursday at 6:30 pm.
Don
1 June 2025
Our Better Practices roundtable is on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm.. Use the link above for 2025.
Our Policy Series is on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Use the link above for 2025.
Copyright © 2025 Ag and Rural Caucus, All rights reserved.
Ag and Rural Caucus of State Democratic Central Committee
Our mailing address is: Ag and Rural Caucus 2921 Mud Creek Rd Waitsburg, WA 99361
Today we…
Support new arrivals through education, relationships and community so they can thrive in their new home.
In the future, we will…
Create a community of open hearts, helping hands and supportive systems where strangers become friends and we all thrive.
Join B5 in celebration of World Refugee Day on Friday, June 20! This is an evening to learn more about our refugee neighbors, see cultural performances, and enjoy a meal while supplies lasts. The event starts at 6pm and will take place on the Boys & Girls Club lawn.
See you there!
Thank you to all of you who give your time and money, so refugees and immigrants can find welcome at the doors of B5. Your donation in any amount allows us to support our programs to help newly arrived refugees THRIVE in our community. Will you join us?
Donations can be made through our website or they can be mailed to: B5 Learning Center 715 S Jean Street Kennewick, WA 99336
Contact us:
(509) 221-1572
info@thriveatb5.org
Keep in touch:
Like our Facebook page
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It is with a heavy heart I want to tell you that Sergio has been ordered to return to Mexico. I do not know many details, but we have reached out to Gabby to see if there is anything else we can do. I just wanted to say thank you for your love and support of a local family that has had to endure this tragedy. In light of this, we are going to stick to community events this week. I hope you join us and we keep up the fight.
To help Gabby and Sergio:
Please continue to visit their food truck, Hibachi Explosion in Kennewick. You can find them on Facebook as well. Let’s show them we are thinking of them and supporting them.
Join our POTLUCK/ Strategy Session on FRIDAY When: Friday, June 20th at 5:00
Where: Kennewick Public Library (Union) will be inside
What: bring a food item to share, we will be planning for next month and continue our work on community building and education. We hope you can join in.
PRIDE!!!! We are having a table at Pride
When: Sunday, June 22nd, 10:00-6:00 Where: Memorial Park, Pasco
What: Now more than ever we need to stand with the groups in our community that are being targeted by this administration and those sitting by quietly. Let’s show our solidarity.
June 20th – Potluck and strategy session -5pm at Kennewick Library (union) **Just announced!
Will be chatting about upcoming events, ongoing activities and I also want to hear from you.
Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/94107976607?pwd=qZeb9jUuH9e3DwVvukrhqxuwrNTWvv.1
Meeting ID: 941 0797 6607
Passcode: 244304
Today we…
Support new arrivals through education, relationships and community so they can thrive in their new home.
In the future, we will…
Create a community of open hearts, helping hands and supportive systems where strangers become friends and we all thrive.
Join B5 for a meal prepared by our Karen friends on Wednesday, June 25. It will be an evening of delicious food, community, and an opportunity to learn about Karen culture. We hope you join us as we create a community of open hearts, helping hands, and supportive systems where we all thrive.
This event is free, but space is limited. Please reserve your spot below or contact Larissa Knopp, Development Coordinator, for more information.
Thank you to all of you who give your time and money, so refugees and immigrants can find welcome at the doors of B5. Your donation in any amount allows us to support our programs to help newly arrived refugees THRIVE in our community. Will you join us?
Donations can be made through our website or they can be mailed to: B5 Learning Center 715 S Jean Street Kennewick, WA 99336
Contact us:
(509) 221-1572
info@thriveatb5.org
Keep in touch:
Like our Facebook page
Follow us on Instagram
Bookmark our website
Sign up here to receive our news in your own email inbox!
Follow us on our social media and stay up to date with NDTC!
Copyright (C) 2024 National Democratic Training Committee. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
National Democratic Training Committee 910 17th St NW Ste 1050 Washington, DC 20006-2641 USA
Hi A Better Richland Friends,
I know everyone is chomping at the bit to advance our election by district charter amendment, so several of us have been working on an election plan.
Our focus will be on the voters.
For the next few weeks, we will be preparing for the big push in Sept. and Oct. Our focus is on the voters of Richland. Our successful signature drive was non-partisan, so we have decided to keep it that way by not looking for any group endorsements.
Fundraiser on July 13
First up is a BIG fundraiser dinner on Sunday, July 13 at 2354 Harris. We need money for fliers and yard signs.
This week we will develop an invitation and reach out to you with more information. We need to have a plan to expand beyond our group for this fundraiser.
Information for voter pamphlet
Before the first of August, we must submit information for the Voter Pamphlet. Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton emailed me that she will have an outline of the information she needs next week.
Door hangers instead of mailings
Think about what precinct that you would like to adopt. Not only will this save money, but I believe that door hangers receive more attention than a mailer. Each precinct will probably have 400 houses with voters.
A Better Richland Facebook page.
We’re going to create a Facebook page for A Better Richland. Then we will share, share, share our messages.
ADDITIONAL NEWS
Washington Supreme Court Case Doug McKinley argued our case before the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday, June 12.
The judges seemed to like our argument that citizen participation in government was thwarted by the auditor’s decision that the “next regular municipal election” skipped three before a vote in November. What the court will do about it is another question. You can watch the hearing here: Washington State Supreme Court – TVW
Interactive map
Our founder, Shir Regev, has been updating our website and recently added Sarah Gates interactive map to it. If you type in an address, you can see what district it is in. Here’s the link: Interactive Proposed Districts Map — A Better Richland
No more first-class cities with all at-large councilmembersLast but not least!! Voters in Vancouver, the only other first-class city in Washington with all at-large members of the city council, will decide in November whether they want to change to a four-district system. They would also have two at-large members and a mayor elected at-large. The citizens did not have to collect signatures in Vancouver. The Vancouver City Council approved the proposal at their last meeting by a vote of 6-1, the at-large elected mayor being the only no vote.
Thank you for all of your help. We couldn’t have gotten this far without you.
Randy
Volunteer Coordinator
509-554-4438
BADGER FORUM: POSTPONED
A Community Dialogue on Homeless Solutions
BADGER FORUM POSTPONED
A Community Dialogue on Homeless Solutions
Here are some ways you can take action.
- Sat, Jun 14 @ 11am · No Kings
NO KINGS Tri-Cities, WA › - Sat, Jun 14 @ 12pm · No Kings
NO KINGS Walla Walla, WA › - Sat, Jun 14 @ 1pm · No Kings
NO KINGS Hermiston › - Sat, Jun 14 @ 12pm · No Kings
NO KINGS Stanfield › - Sat, Jun 14 @ 11am · No Kings
NO KINGS Pendleton March › - Sun, Jun 15 @ 4pm
Activist Hour – Sundays ›
All times PDT
Here are some ways you can take action.
Tue, Jun 17 @ 4pm
Mobilization 101: Standing Up for Immigrant Communities & Resisting Authoritarianism ›
**Please sign up for both dates!** Across the country, immigrant communities are under attack and authoritarian forces are gaining ground. But there’…
Wed, Jun 18 @ 4:30pm
Summer to Grow, Turn up the Heat – Absorbing our People Training ›
*note – these are stand alone, identical trainings and not a series! read more below to learn more!* This summer it’s time turn up the heat! Come j…
Wed, Jun 25 @ 8pm
SURJ Action Hours: Summer to Grow, Turn Up the Heat! ›
Join us on Wednesdays — whether you are new to SURJ, or have been organizing with us for awhile — to take action together. We do things like call …
All times PDT
🗓️Here are some ways you can take action.
- Mon, Jun 16 @ 1pm
Using Digital Advertising on Your Political Campaign › - Tue, Jun 17 @ 1pm
Creating Effective Digital Calls to Action › - Mon, Jun 23 @ 10am
Raising Money Online › - Tue, Jun 24 @ 6pm
The Secrets to Fundraising Emails › - Thu, Jun 26 @ 10am
AMA Pride Month Edition: Finding Community, Fighting for Equality › - Tue, Jul 8 @ 10am
So You Want to Run for Office? ›
All times PDT
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This is just a reminder that the Washington State organization of the League of Women Voters has some excellent resources on becoming involved in your democracy.